Self-locking clamp



May 21, 1968 B. H. P ITZEL SELF-LOCKING CLAMP Filed April 14, 1966 INVENTOR. 6254714420 A! 1 /7754 BY United States Patent 3,383,739 SELF-LOCKING CLAMP Bernard Henry Pitzel, 3436 E. Glenrosa, Phoenix, Ariz. 85018 Filed Apr. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 542,679 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-132) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Self-locking clamp having a self-locking pin with a keeper which is locked with the self-locking pin by pressure which is caused upon compression of a neoprene liner securely disposed against conductor means which are received in a conductor-receiving portion when the clamp is closed.

Specification.-The invention relates to an improved self-locking clamp, and more particularly the invention is directed to a self-locking pin for a locking clamp having a keeper which is locked with the self-locking pin by pressure which is caused by compressing neoprene liners securely against conductor means which are received in a conductor receiving portion when the clamp is closed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a self-locking clamp by which spacers and dampers may be attached to a line conductor or overhead ground wire.

A further object of the invention is to provide clamping surface of suflicient width so that the clamp applies continuous pressure to the conductor or ground wire to which it is applied so that the clamp does not slip along the conductor or line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selflocking clamp that precludes the structure from working itself loose.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved self-locking clamp that will open completely and not form a loose connection if it is not applied or installed properly to the line conductor or ground wire to which it is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selflocking clamp that requires only very limited inspection to determine if it is properly installed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selflocking clamp that may be modified so that it can be used to attach different items to a conductor or ground wire, or the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that has the quality of ease in installation and removal from a line conductor or overhead ground wire.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that if built to close tolerances may be modified and used without the inserts, if so desired.

The clamp is used to attach objects such as a spacer or damper to a wire, cable or pipe, and the like, and therefore becomes part of the spacer or damper, but primarily by itself it is not a damper or spacer.

In the prior art devices, it has been found that many locking clamps were not properly installed and the pins may drop out, or the clamp would partially come apart and provide a loose connection to the conductor line or ground wire to which it is connected, and these prior art devices are not easily adapted to casual inspection to determine if a pin is completely installed, as required. Further, there was no mating means such as a flange by which the keeper is retained from transverse strains when it is held in place, and by means of the construction of the present invention, the above objects and advantages are realized.

The above and other objects and advantages of the in vention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a selflocking clamp according to the present invention in which the clamp is shown in closed position, and in which the open position is shown in dotted line.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the keeper and main body of the clamp shown in FIGURES 1 to 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a selflocking clamp 10 to which a cable 12 is secured at an end 14 thereof and having the other end in the form of a head 16 which terminates for mounting a hinge pin 18 to which is pivotally mounted a keeper 20.

The body and the keeper 20 are engaged when the keeper is in the closed position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and provide a symmetrical form about its longitudinal axis of the clamp. Intermediate the cable securing end 14 and the head 16 and hinge pin 18 at the other end, there are provided recesses in the main body 15 for receiving a self-locking pin 22 and a line conductor or ground wire receiving recess 26 of the main body and 28 of the keeper 20.

Along the concave contour of the recess 26, 28 there are neoprene liners 3t), 32 respectively for tightly engaging with the line conductor 38 so that there is continuous pressure exerted by the clamp when the keeper 20 is in the closed position, and resulting in lack of vibration, movement, and any potential looseness between the conductor 38 and the self-locking clamp 10. In order to provide strengthening and improved functional characteristics to the keeper, a mating flange 40 is medially disposed longitudinally of the keeper 20, so that transverse or torsional forces do not damage and weaken the clamp, or loosen the keeper 20 from a main body 15. This is also maintained by the self-locking pin 22 in the free end of the keeper 20 being engaged into a self-locking pin recess 42 of the main body.

The clamp body 15 and the keeper 20 may be made and constructed of aluminum alloys, and the hinge pin 1 8 as well as the self-locking pin 22 may as well be made of aluminum or aluminum alloys. The neoprene liners 30, 32 are mechanically bonded to the recesses 26, 28, respectively, and it is within the contemplation of the present invention to construct the liners of the material substantially equivalent of the characteristics of neoprene.

The self-locking clamp 10 may be applied equally as well to metal and plastic pipes as well as to the conductor or lines 38, which are shown only exemplarily in the drawings. The liners 30, 32 are constructed to apply continuous pressure to the pipe or conductor 38, and if there is difficulty in applying the self-locking clamp' 10 to such pipe or conductor 38, then a simple C clamp may be placed over the main body -15 and keeper 20- and be progressively tightened until the keeper 20 is pressed into and against the body 15, including flange 40 being inserted in the mating recess 46 of the main body, so that the self-locking pin 22 may then be inserted into the recess 42, and then the C clamp (not shown) is then removed.

The self-locking pin 22 has an intermediate portion 52 as shown in FIGURE 3 of smaller diameter than the adjacent end portions of pin 22 so that it engages an aperture 54 of flange 40, and accomplishes a locking effect, due to the pressure continuously applied by the conductor 38 against the neoprene liners, which continuously urge the keeper 20 away from the body 15 and thus securely lock the flange 40 int-o the smaller diameter portion 52 of the locking pin 22. The locking pin 22 may have a head 60 so that the pin is inserted into and withdrawn from the recess 42 from one side of the clamp.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the appended claim and not by the embodiment described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claim in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-locking clamp comprising an elongated main body having a cable securing end and an end opposed thereto for mounting a hinge pin, to Which is pivotally connected an elongated keeper, a conductor receiving means intermediately disposed in the form of a recess in the main body and the keeper, respectively, between the ends of the main body and keeper, respectively, said keeper being closed to the main body and being locked thereto by a self-locking pin to secure these parts in clamped relation to a conductor in said recesses, and a resilient neoprene liner interposed between the conductor and each of said recesses for applying continual pressure between the conductor and the respective recesses, an elongated longitudinally and medially disposed flange on said keeper which fits engagingly in mating relation into an elongated recess longitudinally disposed of said main body, said self-locking pin being axially removable from a pin-receiving transverse recess in said elongated recess and flange, in at least one direction only, said self-locking pin being further provided with a head extending at one end thereof and having a portion with a reduced diameter and engaging the transverse recess in said flange, the length of said reduced diameter portion being substantially the same as the thickness of said flange at said transverse recess so as to provide shoulders on both sides of said flange for locking said pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,984 4/1912 Holmes.

1,564,382 12/1925 Treiman.

2,768,283 10/1956 Arnejo.

2,723,303 11/1955 Ward l74146 2,915,580 I12/1959 Gill 174-146 X 3,043,586 7/1962 \Varne 2'871O0 X 3,161,721 12/1964 Torr 24-262 X BERNARD A. GE-LAK, Primary Examiner. 

